Clothing/textile technologist job profile

Clothing and textile technologists have a hands-on role in selecting and testing the ideal fabric or material for a product

A clothing/textile technologist works with a variety of fabrics, both man-made and natural fibres, as well as leather, fur, metals and plastics. As a technologist, you'll source fabrics or textiles that are fit for purpose and carry out quality control tests.

You'll work on the development of products, improving production efficiency and quality, while liaising with those involved in the production process.

The textile and clothing industries are closely linked, and end products range widely from clothing to household and industrial textiles.

An alternative job title for this role is garment technologist.

Responsibilities

Clothing/textile technologists in smaller organisations are usually responsible for both garments and textiles, but in some large companies, these functions are split. In general, tasks may include:

developing manmade fibres and quality assessing natural fibres
spinning fibres into yarn, and knitting or weaving yarn into fabrics
producing non-woven materials
identifying the latest fabric trends, developments and innovations
overseeing the dyeing, printing and finishing processes
ensuring quality in areas such as strength, durability, colourfastness, and water and chemical resistance
advising commercial colleagues on technical aspects of the business
liaising with designers, and adapting designs to suit production methods
making and sizing pre-production garments
sourcing fabrics and accessories
undertaking quality evaluations of materials and checking the quality of the final product
responding to product queries, including complaints from wholesalers and customers.

Technologists who specialise in research and product development may also:

undertake research to find new ways of using yarns
develop chemicals that may be added to fabrics to make them more waterproof, flame-resistant or shrink-resistant
experiment with textiles to improve their look, feel, texture and durability.

Salary

As an assistant textile technologist, you may start on a salary in the region of £21,000 to £25,000. Fully qualified technologists or those on graduate training schemes with large companies may earn more than this.
With a few years' experience, you could earn £30,000 to £35,000.
Those with substantial experience working in senior roles, or with management research development responsibilities, may earn £45,000 to £55,000.

Additional benefits may include a company car, pension and health insurance.

Larger retailers usually pay the most, but there are fewer opportunities in head-office functions.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Contracted working hours are typically 9am to 5pm, although it's usually necessary to work late when there are deadlines to be met. Technologists working in a production environment may be required to work shifts and weekends.

Career breaks and part-time work may be possible, but employers' attitudes and policies vary.

What to expect

Work may be based in a laboratory, factory or office, but there is generally considerable involvement in the production process.
Jobs are available in most areas, although there are usually more in regions with a history of manufacturing, such as London, the North West, West Yorkshire, the Midlands, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Self-employment and freelance work is rare, except perhaps for occasional consultancy work once you have built up significant experience.
Travel within a working day is frequent to meet with customers, manufacturers and suppliers. Business trips may involve overnight stays.
There is an increasingly international dimension to the work. Overseas travel is becoming common as a great deal of manufacturing takes place abroad. Typical destinations are Southern Europe and East Asia.

Qualifications

Typically, you'll need a degree or HND in a relevant subject depending on the area you would like to work in. Garment technicians and clothing technologists will need a degree or HND in a clothing/fashion technology or related subject.

Textile specialists have a degree or HND subjects like textile technology or textile science. Some qualifications have a combination of several specialisms.

In particular, employers look for candidates with a qualification in one of the following subjects:

chemical and physical sciences
clothing technology or garment technology
computing and mathematics
fashion studies
materials science or technology
polymer science or technology
production or manufacturing engineering
textile technology or textile science
total quality management.

Entry without a degree or HND is sometimes possible, although it's likely that this will be at a lower technician level. You can then progress to the role of clothing/textile technologist once you've gained experience and further qualifications.

A related postgraduate qualification is not essential but may be useful, especially for graduates who do not have a relevant first degree.

Skills

You'll need to show:

a high level of technical knowledge and strong practical skills
the ability to work as part of a team and to liaise with colleagues in other functions
strong negotiating skills
the ability to prioritise and switch between different tasks as required
problem-solving skills and decision-making ability
organisational skills, to ensure time schedules are adhered to and deadlines are met
an interest in, and understanding of, computer technology
language skills - may be useful as this is an international industry and you could be required to make visits to suppliers overseas.

Work experience

Experience in the textile and clothing industry will greatly improve your chances of getting a job. Completing a placement as part of your course or setting up your own work experience will be useful.

Contact companies that produce the type of textiles you're interested in working with, and ask about work experience and placement opportunities. Other part-time work that is relevant to the textile industry can also be useful.

Try to join a professional body as a student member while still at university - such as The Textile Institute. Keep up to date with industry developments by reading publications such as Drapers.

It's essential to research potential employers thoroughly and to be prepared to make speculative applications early in your final year. Many first positions are gained through networking.

It may be necessary to take a short-term contract or undertake some work experience at first to gain some knowledge of the role. Some large employers offer graduate training schemes.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Textile technologists are commonly employed by manufacturing companies in retail and the clothing industry. However, there are many other potential employers, in a variety of sectors.

For example, in the field of industrial textiles, there are specialist employers in:

geotextiles
medical textiles
industrial clothing, furnishings and ropes.

The main growth sector within the industry is technical textiles. This involves the development of technologies for performance fabrics and nonwovens for industries such as:

aerospace
agriculture
automotive
construction
defence
detergent
healthcare
IT
paper
transportation.

Some small and medium-sized firms specialise in particular areas of production, such as spinning, weaving or dyeing.

The interior textiles sector mainly covers imported materials and is a major employer in the UK.

Positions in research and development may arise within companies in industry. In universities, such roles are often combined with lecturing.

Look for job vacancies at:

You can also check careers service websites, especially at institutions offering relevant courses, and find graduate recruitment information from textile and clothing manufacturers.

Keeping up to date with industry developments and emerging trends may help your job search and could open up new employment opportunities. Current examples of developing trends in textile technology and fabric technology include sustainable fashion production, innovation in smart clothes (clothes that contain modern technology) and the use of AI in design and production processes and also in relation to customer experience.

Professional development

The training available to you will depend on the sector you work in and the size of your employer. It's typical for new technologists to learn on the job from more experienced colleagues.

Some of the larger retailers and manufacturers offer more formal and structured graduate training programmes. The emphasis is on building up a graduate's academic and technical knowledge by completing specific assignments.

This is supplemented by broad-based, company-specific training on production processes, quality assurance procedures and standards and supplier site familiarisation. Visiting sites may involve spending time overseas. Developmental training for management responsibility may also be provided, if appropriate.

Through these training programmes, graduate entrants will gain an insight into the company's production, quality control processes and cost structures, as well as the importance of effective communication between suppliers, manufacturers and retailers.

External training courses are also available. The Textile Institute offers a range of professional qualifications at Fellowship, Associateship and Licentiateship level. For entry, you’ll need a degree or higher diploma relevant to textiles, and one to five years’ experience depending on the level of qualification that you want to obtain. The courses cover disciplines relating to fibres and fabric, clothing and footwear, and interior and technical textiles.

IT skills have become increasingly important and some companies fund IT training. Language skills can be useful given the international nature of the business and staff may be supported to learn.

Career prospects

In the early stages of your career, you'll generally be responsible for a particular area within the production or development process.

As you progress in your career, you'll have different options for further development. You may opt to move away from technical management into managing a whole department and possibly progressing up the management ladder. Alternatively, you may decide to specialise in an area, such as ethical trading standards, or in a technical service area, such as colour management or quality management systems.

Opportunities also exist for career moves into buying, selling and marketing, and some technologists apply their technical knowledge indirectly in general management functions or quality control.

Once you've reached the role of senior technologist, opportunities in purely technical roles are limited. Moving into other management functions or related areas may offer the best prospects for promotion.

With enough experience, you could also consider a freelance consultancy role. As a consultant, you would negotiate your own terms and conditions technologist and the client. Becoming an owner-manager of your own textile company is another option.

Clothing/textile technologist